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butterbur

2 synonyms for butterbur, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.

Noun — Butterbur is any of several Eurasian herbs of the genus Petasites, with dense clusters of flowers that are often purple.

Synonyms

Rare, literary or technical

Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.

butterdock sweet coltsfoot

How to use butterbur

The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.

a patch of butterbur butterbur leaves wild butterbur butterbur flowers

It is a plain, everyday plant name used in gardening and herbal contexts.

Etymology

The name is a compound of butter and bur. It refers to the plant's large leaves, which were once used to wrap butter.

Full origin of butterbur →

Frequently asked questions

What is butterbur?
It is a Eurasian herb in the genus Petasites, known for its large leaves and clusters of often purple flowers.
Why is it called butterbur?
Its big leaves were once used for wrapping butter, which gave the plant its name.
Is butterbur the same as coltsfoot?
Butterbur and sweet coltsfoot are closely related enough that sweet coltsfoot is used as another name for it.

Nearby words

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Synonyms and antonyms from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA.